Artwork
Endpaper with Animals
Endpaper with Animals is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Johann Maisch. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Maisch’s 1824 woodcut, titled Endpaper with Animals, presents a series of black silhouettes against a vivid yellow background. Each panel contains a single animal—ranging from tiger and camel to cow and deer—rendered in stark, graphic outlines that emphasize form over detail.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a decorative inventory of fauna, juxtaposing wild and domestic species within a uniform visual framework. By placing predators alongside tame livestock, Maisch invites viewers to consider the diversity of the animal kingdom while maintaining a lighthearted, almost encyclopedic tone.
Technique & Style
Executed by carving the design into a wood block and printing it onto bright yellow paper, the image relies on the high contrast of black ink and flat color. The sharp edges and simplified shapes reflect the early‑19th‑century revival of woodcut as a medium for clear, reproducible illustration.
History & Provenance
The piece is a restrike, indicating that the original block was used to produce additional copies after its initial release. Produced in 1824, it exemplifies the period’s interest in affordable, mass‑produced prints for educational and decorative purposes, though specific ownership records remain limited.
Artist & collection
